Fermentation temperature control

[bdmcdowell4]

I am going to be starting my very first brew this friday. Its going to be a belgian wit and im very excited about it. My biggest concern is keeping the fermentation temperature at a steady temp. I will be fermenting in the garage which has been at an AVERAGE 55 DEGREES which is going to be to cold. The yeast i am using is WLP400 Belgian Wit Ale Yeast, optimum Fermentation Temperature: 67-74°F.

Does anyone have a suggestion on how to keep the temp at an optimal temp?

I was thinking about putting it in a large water filled rubber made bucket and heating that with an spare aquarium heater i have laying around. Also i was thinking if i do that should i wrap the bucket in towels and stuff for insulation, or just insulate my fermenter?

If anyone has any input or other suggestions it would be greatley appreciated.

 

[mjmac85]

Look up SOF. It's a cheap home built one. Otherwise you can buy wraps for fermentors that will keep it at the right temp. Another option is a heater hooked up to a temperature controller. Search around a bit lots of threads on this especially in the DIY forum.

 

[bdmcdowell4]

thank you i will look into it. much appreciated.

 

[helibrewer]

Your water idea will work. You can also checkout brewbelts or FermWrap, basically heaters that wrap around the fermentor...I use them on a temp controller in my cool box but you can also wire them up to a dimmer switch and monitor the temp with a stick-on fermentor thermometer until you figure out the dimmer setting...good luck!!

 

[bleme]

Doesn't the aquarium heater have an integrated thermostat? I would think it would have to or else you would cook your fish right? If it does, that is a perfect solution... As long as it doesn't get too warm...

Keep in mind that fermentation will raise the temp of the wort. Because water is a much better conductor for heat, it will be pretty close to the temp of your bucket, but I would still set your thermostat a couple degrees below your target and let fermentation push it the rest of the way.

 

[dragonbreath11]

How about a heating pad?

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sunbeam-Health-King-Size-Programmable-Heating-Pad/3205707

Of Course if you brew and get the temps down to 75-80. You could just pitch. If your garage is at 55F by the time that thermal mass of wort gets down to 55F the yeast would have a good start and most likely would have enough cells to avoid going into hibernation. Remember, at peak fermentation the wort will be anywhere from 4F-7F above ambient temps anyway. If I was in your position I'd pitch a healthy starter at 70F and either keep it in the house for 24 hours or just leave it.

 

[bdmcdowell4]

Thanks everyone all that should help. probably gonna stick with the aquarium heater due to finances (because i have one already, just need a big rubbermade bucket) and i will be sure to set it a few degrees lower than i want so i dont keep it too warm in the fermenter. hopefully the wife will allow me to initally keep it in the downstairs closet until for the first day or two.

 

[mjmac85]

Don't forget when fermenting the beer is warmer than the outside air.